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Remove hot water heater

Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 4:15 pm
by Jim_D
Like all projects on the boat I thought that this should be fairly straightforward. We have a 6 gal hot water heater (Force 10) which is beyond salvage. Project today was to remove out of back locker and then, at some point in the future, install new hot water heater. Disconnected heater. Removed screws. Positioned heater under locker door and HEAVE up and doesn't fit through the locker. Like not close. After an hour of straining, sweating, cursing and sweating (and trying to maneuver the heater into every conceivable position to get out of the locker), I gave up. Attached a picture of the problem. Shortest side on the water heater is 13.6 inches while the locker is about 13.0626 inches wide.

Two questions:
1. Probably a rhetorical question, but where these installed BEFORE the lockers in back were finished?

2. Has anyone gotten the water heater out without cutting into the trim around the locker. Just want to see if there are any solutions before I pull out the saw...

Jim

--------
PDQ 36, S/V Serenity
The spaceship, not peace of mind
https://serenitysstory.blog/

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 4:23 pm
by Jim_D
And the pretty picture of the heater in the locker...

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:53 am
by amytom
Hard to tell from picture but can the locker frame be removed?

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:40 pm
by Jim_D
Not that I could see. It looked like one solid piece. I'm headed back out later this week to relook. And to see if I can take a big fraking hammer to the hot water heater and break into small chunks! :mrgreen:
Jim

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:48 pm
by chicagocat
So your heater is in one of the 2 aft cockpit lazarettes? Strange, mine is under the navigation bench inside.

It'd be really nice not to cut that fiberglass. Does Force 10 have a manual with an exploded diagram? Maybe a way to get it apart.

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:56 pm
by Jim_D
The heater is in the aft cockpit lazarette. Starboard side. Port side has the diesel tank for the genset. It is one big bin under the two hatches and I tried pulling out of each side but no luck...just isn't the space. And I don't want to cut. I've been googling 'force 10' for a diagram and also 'how to cut metal with a torch.' Perhaps I'll keep that solution until I've exhausted all other options.

The heater got IN there somehow. Was wondering it was installed early and the rest of the lazarette was built around (and on top of) the heater.

Jim

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:05 pm
by amytom
The picture shows a clean molded edge around the cabinet. The PDQs I’ve been on usually has a flat fiberglass surface with a cabinet frame attached either via screws or glue. Can you attach another picture showing the outside of the cabinet and how the door is attached?

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:37 pm
by Jim_D
yep...will do. I'm heading out to the boat thursday/friday.
Thanks;
Jim

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:08 am
by Jwood1
I think I would try an angle grinder with a cut-off blade to cut the tank apart rather than a torch.

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 12:53 pm
by Loki
I have a larger, 11 gal tank in Loki. Its in the starboard aft cockpit locker, all the way to the side. I'm positive it was installed before the deck went on and will need some implement of destruction to remove it.

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 1:25 pm
by Jim_D
After further examination of the locker, there was no way that water heater was coming out in one piece without me having to cut into the locker. And that was a non-starter. I was joking in a previous post about using a torch...the tools of the day were a mini crow bar, a hammer and a screwdriver. 45 minutes after starting, the water heater was in a sufficient number of pieces that I could easily get it out of the locker. Now to purchase a replacement that will FIT into the space!

Thanks for all the suggestions--appreciate all the input.

Jim

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 2:29 pm
by duetto
isotemp makes rectangular ones as well as small barrels.

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 2:57 pm
by Jim_D
Are the Isotemp lined with gold? They are expensive. Was looking at the Seaward 6 gal (square) which is wide enough (13 inches) to fit into the locker and into the space vacated by the previous occupant.

Re: Remove hot water heater

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:24 pm
by duetto
no not gold, ss. i can only comment on my experience and try to help.....your results may vary :)